The College of Charleston will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting several events beginning Thursday, January 17, 2013 through Monday, January 21. All programs are free and open to the public. A calendar of events is available here.

The theme for the College’s 2013 MLK celebration is “Unity Through Diversity” and will recognize Dr. King’s life-long fight for racial equality, global peace, and human rights. John Bello-Ogunu, the Office of Institutional Diversity’s Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, says, “As a community, we strongly believe that we all have the ability to translate our human differences and similarities into a united and formidable force that is strong enough to overcome any obstacles that might prevent us from completing Dr. King’s unfinished work.”

At 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 17, the public is invited to Physicians Memorial Auditorium to learn about the History of Hip Hop. Wes Jackson, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, will deliver a multimedia, content-driven presentation highlighting hip-hop’s legacy as an agent of artistic progression, community building and social change.

On Monday, January 21, College of Charleston students, faculty and staff will participate in the MLK Day of Service and will donate their time to the Charleston YWCA. From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. students will be helping with Charleston’s annual MLK Celebration Parade and the Youth Speak Out, which will be held at the YWCA immediately following the parade. Students will be helping with registration, parade lineup, and assisting with live media coverage.

“We believe that diversity is our strength and the bond that unites us together as a campus community,” says Bello-Ogunu.

For more information call 843.953.5079 or visit www.cofc.edu/mlkday.